Add basic page numbering

Learn how to add basic page numbering to your pages in Adobe InDesign.

You can add a current page number marker to your pages to specify where a page number sits on a page and how it looks. Because a page number marker updates automatically, the page number it displays is always correct—even as you add, remove, or rearrange pages in the document. Page number markers can be formatted and styled as text.

Add a page number marker to a master page

Page number markers are commonly added to master pages.
When master pages are applied to document pages, the page numbering
is updated automatically, similar to headers and footers.

Page number on master A (left) and page 5 based on same master
(right)

If the automatic page number is on a master page, it displays the master page prefix. On a document page, the automatic page number displays the page number. On a pasteboard, it displays PB.

In the Pages panel, double-click the master page to which you want to add your page number. To create master pages, see Create masters.

Create a text frame large enough to hold the longest page number and any text you want to appear next to it. Position the text frame where you want the page number to appear.

If your document has facing pages, create separate text frames for the left and right master pages.

In the page number text frame, add any text that will come
before or after the page number (such as “Page “).

Position the insertion point where you want the page number
to appear, and then choose Type > Insert Special Character >
Markers > Current Page Number.

Apply the master page to the document pages on which you want the page numbering to appear. To apply master pages, see Apply master pages.

Note:

To remove the page number from the first page
in the document, you have two options. Either apply a different
or the None master, or override and delete the master text frame
on the document page. Ctrl/Cmd+Shift-click a master text frame to override
it.

Change the page numbering style

By default, pages are numbered using Arabic numerals (1, 2, 3...); however, you can number pages using upper or lowercase Roman (i, ii, iii...) or alphanumeric (a, b, c...) numbering. You can also number pages using preceding zeros. Each part of the document that uses a different numbering style is called a section.

In Japanese, Chinese, or Korean versions, by default, Arabic numerals are used for page numbers. However, if you use the Numbering & Section Options command, you can specify the style of numbering, such as Roman numerals, Arabic numerals, Kanji, and so on. The Style option allows you to select the number of digits in the page number, for example, 001 or 0001. Each part of the document that uses a different numbering style is called a section. For more information on sections, see Define section numbering.

Use the Numbering & Section Options dialog box to change
the page numbering style to use a different format. You can also
use this dialog box to restart page numbering or to start page numbering
at a number you specify.

In the Pages panel, select the page where you want the
new numbering style section to begin.

A section indicator icon appears
above the page icon in the Pages panel, indicating the start of
a new section.

Note:

If a number or letter appears before the current page number you inserted, it means that a section prefix is included. If you don’t want this prefix, deselect Include Prefix When Numbering Pages in the Numbering & Section Options dialog box.

Common page numbering tasks

InDesign offers several different features that help you
create page numbering effects.